Indian Journal of Critical Care Medicine

Register      Login

SEARCH WITHIN CONTENT

FIND ARTICLE

Volume / Issue

Online First

Archive
Volume  28 (2024)
Volume  27 (2023)
Volume  26 (2022)
Volume  25 (2021)
Volume  24 (2020)
Volume  23 (2019)
Volume  22 (2018)
Volume  21 (2017)
Volume  20 (2016)
Volume  19 (2015)
Volume  18 (2014)
Volume  17 (2013)
Volume  16 (2012)
Volume  15 (2011)
Volume  14 (2010)
Volume  13 (2009)
Volume  12 (2008)
Volume  11 (2007)
Volume  10 (2006)
Volume  9 (2005)
Volume  8 (2004)
Related articles

VOLUME 19 , ISSUE 4 ( 2015 ) > List of Articles

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Scrub typhus: Clinical spectrum and outcome

Dnyaneshwar P. Mutkule, Pradeep M. Venkategowda, Mallela V. Rao, Alai N. Taggu

Keywords : Acute respiratory distress syndrome, immunochromatography test, screening criteria, scrub typhus, thrombocytopenia, Weil-Felix test

Citation Information : Mutkule DP, Venkategowda PM, Rao MV, Taggu AN. Scrub typhus: Clinical spectrum and outcome. Indian J Crit Care Med 2015; 19 (4):208-213.

DOI: 10.4103/0972-5229.154553

License: CC BY-ND 3.0

Published Online: 01-03-2016

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2015; The Author(s).


Abstract

Background: Scrub typhus is one of the differential diagnoses for fever with thrombocytopenia. ARDS associated with Scrub typhus has high morbidity and mortality. Aims: To evaluate clinical features, lab values, and outcome in patients with scrub typhus and comparison in patients with or without ARDS. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted on 109 patients with febrile illness and thrombocytopenia during a period of 12 months. All 109 patients were tested with both Immune-chromatography test and Weil felix test. Patients having either Immune-chromatography test/Weil felix test positive have been included and considered as scrub typhus positive whereas negative for both Immune-chromatography and Weil felix test were excluded. Clinical features, lab parameters, and outcome were evaluated in all patients with scrub typhus. Statistical analysis used in this study was T-test. Results: Among 58 patients who were included (After exclusion of 51 patients among total of 109 patients) 34 patients had no ARDS and 24 patients had ARDS. The clinical feature like dyspnoea, cough, low blood pressure (MAP<65 mmHg), IVC collapsibility (by ultrasound) and laboratory parameters like decreased Hemoglobin, Hematocrit, Serum albumin, and increased serum creatinine, serum total bilirubin, SGOT, SGPT, LDH, CPK, and serum lactate were statistically significant (P < 0.0001) in scrub typhus patients group with ARDS. The higher titers of Weil-felix can be correlated with more severe form of disease according to our observation. All 34 Scrub typhus patients without ARDS recovered completely. Among 24 Scrub typhus patients with ARDS, 22 patients recovered, and 2 patients died. Conclusion: Scrub typhus is an important differential diagnosis in a patients having fever with thrombocytopenia. Scrub typhus associated with ARDS has high morbidity and mortality. Early diagnosis and treatment with doxycycline can prevent the occurrence of ARDS

PDF Share
  1. Tamura A, Ohashi N, Urakami H, Miyamura S. Classification of Rickettsia tsutsugamushi in a new genus, Orientia gen. nov. as Orientia tsutsugamushi comb. nov. Int J Syst Bacteriol 1995;45:589-91.
  2. Chogle AR. Diagnosis and treatment of scrub typhus - The Indian scenario. J Assoc Physicians India 2010;58:11-2.
  3. Watt G, Parola P. Scrub typhus and tropical rickettsioses. Curr Opin Infect Dis 2003;16:429-36.
  4. Kothari VM, Karnad DR, Bichile LS. Tropical infections in the ICU. J Assoc Physicians India 2006;54:291-8.
  5. Mahajan SK. Scrub typhus. J Assoc Physicians India 2005;53:954-8.
  6. Wang CC, Liu SF, Liu JW, Chung YH, Su MC, Lin MC. Acute respiratory distress syndrome in scrub typhus. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2007;76:1148-52.
  7. Subbalaxmi MV, Murali Krishna M, Krishna Prasad A, Teja VD, Swaroopa K, Chandra N, et al. Outbreak of scrub typhus in Andhra Pradesh - Experience at a tertiary care hospital. J Assoc Physicians India 2014;60:490-6.
  8. ARDS Definition Task Force, Ranieri VM, Rubenfeld GD, Thompson BT, Ferguson ND, Caldwell E, et al. Acute respiratory distress syndrome: The Berlin definition. JAMA 2012;307:2526-33.
  9. Lerdthusnee K, Khuntirat B, Leepitakrat W, Tanskul P, Monkanna T, Khlaimanee N, et al. Scrub typhus: Vector competence of Leptotrombidium chiangraiensis chiggers and transmission efficacy and isolation of Orientia tsutsugamushi. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2003;990:25-35.
  10. Walker JS, Chan CT, Manikumaran C, Elisberg BL. Attempts to infect and demonstrate transovarial transmission of R. tsutsugamushi in three species of Leptotrombidium mites. Ann N Y Acad Sci 1975;266:80-90.
  11. Chayakul P, Panich V, Silpapojakul K. Scrub typhus pneumonitis: An entity which is frequently missed. Q J Med 1988;68:595-602.
  12. Park JS, Jee YK, Lee KY, Kim KY, Myong NH, Seo PW. Acute respiratory distress syndrome associated with scrub typhus: Diffuse alveolar damage without pulmonary vasculitis. J Korean Med Sci 2000;15:343-5.
  13. Varghese GM, Abraham OC, Mathai D, Thomas K, Aaron R, Kavitha ML, et al. Scrub typhus among hospitalised patients with febrile illness in South India: Magnitude and clinical predictors. J Infect 2006;52:56-60.
  14. Vivekanandan M, Mani A, Priya YS, Singh AP, Jayakumar S, Purty S. Outbreak of scrub typhus in Pondicherry. J Assoc Physicians India 2010;58:24-8.
  15. Sharma A, Mahajan S, Gupta ML, Kanga A, Sharma V. Investigation of an outbreak of scrub typhus in the himalayan region of India. Jpn J Infect Dis 2005;58:208-10.
  16. Koh GC, Maude RJ, Paris DH, Newton PN, Blacksell SD. Diagnosis of scrub typhus. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2010;82:368-70.
  17. Mathai E, Lloyd G, Cherian T, Abraham OC, Cherian AM. Serological evidence for the continued presence of human rickettsioses in southern India. Ann Trop Med Parasitol 2001;95:395-8.
  18. Kamarasu K, Malathi M, Rajagopal V, Subramani K, Jagadeeshramasamy D, Mathai E. Serological evidence for wide distribution of spotted fevers and typhus fever in Tamil Nadu. Indian J Med Res 2007;126:128-30.
  19. Mahajan SK, Rolain JM, Sankhyan N, Kaushal RK, Raoult D. Pediatric scrub typhus in Indian Himalayas. Indian J Pediatr 2008;75:947-9.
  20. Mahajan SK, Kaushik M, Raina R. Relevance of Weil-Felix test in diagnosis of scrub typhus in India. J Asssoc Physicians India 2006;54:619-21.
  21. Blacksell SD, Jenjaroen K, Phetsouvanh R, Tanganuchitcharnchai A, Phouminh P, Phongmany S, et al. Accuracy of rapid IgM-based immunochromatographic and immunoblot assays for diagnosis of acute scrub typhus and murine typhus infections in Laos. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2010;83:365-9.
  22. Sonthayanon P, Chierakul W, Wuthiekanun V, Phimda K, Pukrittayakamee S, Day NP, et al. Association of high Orientia tsutsugamushi DNA loads with disease of greater severity in adults with scrub typhus. J Clin Microbiol 2009;47:430-4.
  23. Kim DM, Kang DW, Kim JO, Chung JH, Kim HL, Park CY, et al. Acute renal failure due to acute tubular necrosis caused by direct invasion of Orientia tsutsugamushi. J Clin Microbiol 2008;46:1548-50.
  24. Sheehy TW, Hazlett D, Turk RE. Scrub typhus. A comparison of chloramphenicol and tetracycline in its treatment. Arch Intern Med 1973;132:77-80.
  25. Phimda K, Hoontrakul S, Suttinont C, Chareonwat S, Losuwanaluk K, Chueasuwanchai S, et al. Doxycycline versus azithromycin for treatment of leptospirosis and scrub typhus. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2007;51:3259-63.
  26. Watt G, Chouriyagune C, Ruangweerayud R, Watcharapichat P, Phulsuksombati D, Jongsakul K, et al. Scrub typhus infections poorly responsive to antibiotics in northern Thailand. Lancet 1996;348:86-9.
PDF Share
PDF Share

© Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) LTD.